Delbert Philpott

Who was Delbert Philpott?

Delbert E. Philpott was an American soldier and scientist.

Born in Omro, Wisconsin, Philpott served in the Fighting 69th Infantry Division in World War II, and was one of three Americans in the iconic link-up photo by Allan Jackson of American troops shaking hands with Russian soldiers at the Elbe River in April 1945. Philpott was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart Medals for his service.

After the war, Philpott completed his Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry at Indiana University in 1948 and a Master's Degree in 1949. At the University of Illinois Medical School in Chicago he established the first electron microscope facility, before moving to the Marine Biological Lab and Institute for Muscle Research in Woods Hole, MA in 1952, where he was Head of Electron Microscopy, directing research projects under Nobel Laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi in the winter and for the Marine Biological Lab at Woods Hole during the summer.